The public lecture featured M. Fajrin Rasyid, Co-Founder of Bukalapak and former Director of Digital Business at Telkom Indonesia. He is an alumnus of ITB’s Informatics Engineering program, class of 2004, and graduated cum laude with a GPA of 4.00. He also completed his MBA at ITB with cum laude honors in 2021.

The event was opened by ITB Director of Student Affairs, Prof. Muhammad Insanu, and moderated by Dr. Epin Saifudin, M.Pd., a lecturer at ITB’s Faculty of Art and Design (FSRD). The discussion highlighted the importance of developing digital talent to meet the growing demand for skilled human resources amid rapid technological advancement.

Prioritizing Ideas and User Validation in Building a Startup

Fajrin shared his career journey, including his experience in co-founding Bukalapak in 2011. According to him, financial capital is not the first thing someone needs when starting a business.

“The first thing you need to prepare is not capital, but an idea. Once the idea is finalized, then build the team or capabilities, and execute it. The capital will follow,” Fajrin said.

He also reminded students not to fall into the trap of developing technology simply because it is sophisticated or uses the latest algorithms. In his view, innovation should begin with real problems and provide tangible benefits to users.

For that reason, he encouraged students to interact directly with potential users. By understanding users’ needs, innovators can ensure that the solutions they develop truly address the problems at hand.

Fajrin also emphasized the importance of having a long-term vision. According to him, major achievements require a long process and sustained consistency over time.

Bureaucracy, Corporate Innovation, and National-Scale Impact
In 2020, Fajrin joined Telkom Indonesia as Director of Digital Business. Moving from a startup environment to a state-owned enterprise gave him experience in navigating an organization with a different scale and work processes.

According to him, one effective approach to dealing with bureaucracy is to identify bottlenecks that disrupt processes and address them gradually.

One of the experiences he found particularly meaningful was his involvement in developing the PeduliLindungi application during the COVID-19 pandemic. The process required coordination among multiple stakeholders to integrate systems used in pandemic response efforts.

“That was when I saw firsthand how technology could help solve national challenges. Technology can truly solve real problems in society,” he said.

Creating a “Multiplier Effect” and the Power of “Storytelling”
Fajrin is currently taking on a new role as an angel investor. He has invested in and provided mentorship to around 20 startups across various sectors.

He sees this role as a way to create a multiplier effect. By supporting startup founders, the impact can extend to a much larger number of people through the companies they build.

When evaluating a startup, Fajrin said he does not only consider the capabilities of the team and the appeal of the product, but also the purpose behind the company.

He also highlighted the importance of storytelling, particularly for engineering students and innovators. The ability to communicate complex ideas in a simple and understandable way is essential.

Fajrin encouraged students to practice their elevator pitch—the ability to explain a vision or idea briefly and convincingly. This skill can be useful when presenting innovations to investors as well as when applying for jobs or scholarships.

The “ABG” Student Challenge and the Spirit of Lifelong Learning

Fajrin also shared a message he once received from former ITB Rector Prof. Kusmayanto Kadiman when he was a first-year student. At the time, he was challenged to become an “ABG” student, an acronym for *Akademik, Berorganisasi,* and *Gaul*—academic achievement, active involvement in organizations, and broad social engagement.

The academic aspect means maintaining strong academic performance as a form of responsibility. Being active in organizations means participating in activities that develop teamwork and social skills. Meanwhile, *gaul* refers to expanding one’s network of friends across different study programs and backgrounds.

Fajrin himself embraced all three during his time as an ITB student. In addition to graduating cum laude, he was active in ITB’s Student Family (Keluarga Mahasiswa/KM ITB) and built connections with students from various fields.

Amid the rapid development of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), he reminded students that the most important capability is not merely mastering a particular technology, but continuously learning and adapting to change.

“The most important skill that all of us need today is not simply AI itself, but the ability to learn new skills. You need to have a growth mindset,” he said.